If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea… a brief year in review

Thistles and Kiwis

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would wish each other season’s greetings, talk about how we celebrated Christmas (more of that on Monday), and how nice it is to be on summer holiday. I offer you a slice of Christmas cake and a cup of Earl Grey blue flower tea, and you say yes please that sounds good

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about our favourite films of the year. I say I just loved Conclave and The Taste of Things and you say oh yes they were both great films. I say on the small screen at home I enjoyed Slow Horses, Critical Incident, Ludwig and of course the recent Christmas special finale of Gavin and Stacey (shown in New Zealand on Boxing Day). You say you enjoyed those too.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea we would also talk about our books of the year, and what we are currently reading, and I say I have just finished the latest Stanley Tucci, which I loved.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea we would talk about trips, and I say we were lucky to get back to New Caledonia in January before the riots and you said yes you were, and that we had a great if short trip to Perth in November. Karl also got to Europe (Copenhagen, Malmö and Athens) and Shanghai.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about our food adventures in 2024. I say we ate well at Floriditas, including their collaboration with Field & Green, an evening of orange wine and good food at Noble Rot, Ortega Fish Shack, Koji, WBC, Supra, Onslow and Cazador in Auckland and Balthazar in Perth. You say is that all? I laugh and say no…..and list some more. You smile and say you do enjoy food and I say yes I do.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea you say what was your favourite sandwich of the year? I say probably the tuna melt at Fred’s on Cuba Street. I say that I’ve made a couple of good ones recently with bread from Shelly Bay Baker – a ham, cheese and salad on a piece of baguette and a Boursin, salami and salad on their olive bread and a sesame bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese for Christmas Day breakfast.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…we would talk about how we moved house again and that we would like to stay put for a bit now and you smile. I say I went to see a netball game, an escape room, the Winetopia celebration of New Zealand wines and Beervana beer festival.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea you would ask about 2024’s word of the year, I say I forgot it about half way through the year as there was so much going on and you say that seems fair. I say I think my word for 2025 might be direction, but we will see.

If we were having coffee…or even a cup of tea…I would ask you if you would like to stay for dinner, there is a smoked salmon and courgette (zucchini) quiche, and you say yes please. So we open a bottle of wine and settle down for the evening.

Also entered in the end of year what’s been on your calendar hosted by Sue at Women Living Well Over 50, Deb at Deb’s World, Jo at And Anyways and Donna at Retirement Reflections. 

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.

You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. 

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

33 Comments

  3. What a lovely wrap up Barbara. I felt calmness ooze from your words and would love to stay for dinner!

    Thanks for joining us for #WBOYC each month, it’s a delight to read your posts. All the best for 2025!

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  5. Great summary of your year! I haven’t seen Gavin and Stacy yet. I love it, but John doesn’t like it so I didn’t inflict it on him on Christmas Day! Sadly, I am not the kind of person who can resist reading the reviews, so I know the ending. I’ll still enjoy it though.

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  6. What a great wrap-up for the year. I’m waiting anxiously to see the Gavin & Stacey finale… Can Not Wait!. I love a good sandwich situation and yours over the year have been full of inspo – as have your foodie posts. Thanks for your virtual company this year. Here’s to 2025.

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  7. Hi Barbara what a lovely recap and thank you for supporting our #WBOYC? link up in 2025. I’m going to watch Gavin and Stacey at my daughter’s house tomorrow as I don’t have the streaming service at home. Happy New Year to you and your husband and I look forward to another year of blogging friendship and connection. Take care, Sue xx

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  8. All those adventures and good food sounds amazing. Did you talk about the last time you move? Or are you actually moving again? Enjoy your holiday 🙂

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  9. Hi, Barbara – I greatly enjoyed this catchup and once again your food pics had me drooling.

    Stanley Tucci has a new book published? I will have to check that out.

    ‘Direction’ sounds like a great WOTY if that is the word you decide upon.

    Wishing you a wonderful 2025 ahead!

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  10. I’ll have to pass on the offer of the Earl Grey. Because people knew that I liked tea when I was younger, they often gave me Earl Grey, but I couldn’t get on with the bergamot flavour at all. It would have been rude to refuse it, so I gradually came to dislike the flavour more and more. But if you had a cup of Lapsang Souchong to hand, I would gladly partake.

    You have packed a lot into your year.

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    1. For some reason, I haven’t got Lapsang Souchong, but I could offer you Monk’s Blend (black and green blend with a touch of citrus) or orange pekoe? I now have a longing for Lapsang Souchong.

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  12. I so enjoyed your year in review cuppa, Barbara. I wish I was there to share that quiche and a glass of wine with you. Here’s to a happy, healthy 2025!

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  13. Sounds like a wonderful year. I always love seeing your sandwiches they look so delicious. Stanley Tucci is a favorite of mine. I didn’t realize he had so many books. I just looked at all of them on Amazon. I sort of lost track of my word of the year. It’s sort of funny because the word was “action”.

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